We need more love for the trades!
Willis Potter, principal of the Virgin Islands School of Technical Studies (VISTS) said he would like to see a greater appreciation for technical subjects in the BVI.
There was a shift away from technical subjects in schools across the Caribbean, in favour of more general disciplines that were deemed more desirable.
But Potter said his hope is that every child would leave the BVI school system with a technical subject as they head into the working world. He also said many people aren’t aware of the valuable education and training youth can get when they attend VISTS.
“VISTS offers something you can’t get anywhere else. In any other high school, you can get your school leaving certificate and CSEC subjects and that’s it. At VISTS you get your school leaving certificate, CSEC subjects, CVQs and City and Guilds. So a child leaving VISTS is more qualified than any other child in the BVI,” Potter explained to JTV News.
Potter also said he wants to dispel the belief that technical skills are lower-level skills as this is what keeps many people away from the trades.
“Would you drive on a bridge created by a dunce? Would you go to a doctor who doesn’t have his tools and his knowledge because medicine is technical? We tend to look at technicals as those lower-level jobs but if we really think about it, how can we frown on something that can marvel the world? Planes are flying — that’s technical, boats sailing the water, film-making, arts and crafts are technical but we frown on technicals in the BVI,” Potter explained.
He also added that students wishing to attend VISTS must complete 9th-grade education and must be willing to spend three years in their chosen technical discipline. He said many students who are labelled troublesome at other high schools in the territory, actually excel once they transfer to VISTS as they find suitable disciplines and a smaller school community where they get more attention on a day-to-day basis.
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But it’s an uphill battle , all the so called politicians are only hollering out FREE THE WEED ) none of those sophisticated and highly educated gentlemen don’t even have the decency to mention ( AGRICULTURE ) to help FEED OURSELVES ,and the youths only interested in the fash $$ from the DRUG TRADE so they can show off their gold chains , fancy rides , and castles on the hillside and some would rather rob and kill to pay their rent and live in a lifestyle that they cannot afford , but my respect to you for making it available to the few who are really interested in living a respectable and honorable life with integrity
I agree with Mr. Potter. These trades should be a part of the curriculum. That way each student gets to learn a practical skill even if they decide to go on to college. SKILLS are where it’s at!
Practical skills put you in a position to earn a little on the side in college while you’re getting the fancy degree. Speaking from personal experience here.
BRAVO, Mr. Potter!
You definitely have ‘A STRONG VISION’
I hope that Mr. Potter’s dream is realized by the Ministry of Education (and the community as a whole). Remember that we can all contribute to ‘Nation Building ‘
VISTS is a definite avenue to building future trades men and trades women.
Let us FIX this urgently.
HELLO!!!
With an absentee Mininister of Education who appears like a ninja for phot ops, your vision is lost on these PLEBS! Even HLSCC needs a focus more on trades and a form of City & Guilds so we can minimize the importation of these labourers and build the skillet from within.
The sad reality is for sometime now we have been saddled with leaders whom have no forward thinking abilities apart from self-enrichment at any cost. This has left a critical gap in workforce development that none to date can grasp. Sad to see what my home has become due to malfeasances, misappropriations, corruption and just plain out bold-faced ignorance.
These are facts Mr. Potter. However ever since we went from Good to Great and Left no Child Behind we been celebrated mediocrity and watered down our education system to where we are doing a criminal disservice to our children. Where is the coach now? What has his protege actually done? Government is not a pageant..but these cats just here for the photops, the trips, and a few pretty speeches…not for we the people
Charity begins at home. You see students spend their senior years of school in the “Arts classes”. After graduation you see them in the hotel industry! Mommy and Daddy didn’t wanted me to do technical classes because you would not be recognized and they don’t pay well
Well, with persons agreeing with Potter, What happens next?
We need to sit, dialogue and reimagine education with the TRADES as a focus.
The truth is, “When students are taught with a ‘hands on’ ‘minds on’ approach, then productivity is much higher.” This is true whether the students are academically INCLINED or NOT.
Success of
The education of our students is not a priority, much less the technical. The minister just uses the term STEAM for political points. She’s actually doing nothing for education. She and the CEO are just walking around for photo ops and they’re doing absolutely nothing to advance education. If you want two bullies, they’re good at that. Both of them are major disappointments. They’re busy involving in non- issues while the education system going to hell in a hand basket. The CEO and the minister of education needs to go. They’re useless.
You actually have to do physical labour in the trades. You get dirty and sweaty, and have to produce.. Most don’t seem to want to do that anymore when their uncle can get them a nice cushy, air conditioned government job.
Hear, hear!
Our system is skewed by age old stereotypes, and if not corrected in short order, we unleash all manner of unnecessary challenges for mot just the youth, but the economy…. and indeed our collective future.